If Comcast doesn't have an agreement to carry the SEC network by August 13 I will be moving to Dish Network by August 14.
Oliver Barry, CRS, GRI, SFR Real Estate Broker Bob Parks, LLC 145 Maple Row Blvd Hendersonville TN 37075 Mobile: 615-972-4239 Office: 615-826-4040 Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: > From: Shane Ford <[email protected]> > Date: May 30, 2014 at 8:51:32 AM CDT > To: GatorNews <[email protected]> > Subject: [gatornews] [SUN]: Slive promises SEC Network will be national > Reply-To: [email protected] > > Slive promises SEC Network will be national > > By Robbie Andreu > Gainesville SUN Staff writer > Published: Thursday, May 29, 2014 at 1:28 p.m. > Last Modified: Thursday, May 29, 2014 at 1:28 p.m. > DESTIN — The SEC likes to do things in a big way, and that's certainly the > plan with the new SEC Network, which will be national in coverage, guarantees > league commissioner Mike Slive. > > But it's going to take a little more time, a little more patience, and a lot > more negotiating for that to happen. > > With the Aug. 14 launch now less than three months away, the SEC's network > partner, ESPN, is still in the negotiating stages with the majority of the > nation's television cable and satellite providers, including Cox Cable. > > At this stage, only about 25 percent of the nation is set to receive the SEC > Network. > > Although there is a lot more negotiating to be done between now and August, > the SEC seems confident that its national vision for the network will become > reality. > > “We're in quality conversations with all of the other major distributors over > the next few months and we remain optimistic that, at some point in time, > we'll have full distribution,” Slive said at the SEC Spring Meetings. “I > think it's unrealistic to think we'll have full distribution at the time when > we launch in August. > > “But we're going to be national. It's my hope that the programming will be so > significant that everybody will want to carry it.” > > At this stage, the league and ESPN have agreements with only four major cable > and satellite providers — AT&T U-verse, Dish Network, Google Fiber and NRTC. > AT&T U-verse came on board when the SEC announced the launch date a year ago. > > Justin Connolly, ESPN senior vice president for college networks, said > negotiations are progressing and pretty much on schedule. > > “We're not concerned at this point,” he said. “If you look back at not just > conference networks, but networks as a whole in terms of distribution, holes > are filled toward the end. Sometimes you launch with distribution holes. > > “We feel really good about having 25 percent of the country already on board > and ready to launch. The big focus of ours is the next 75 days and continuing > to have productive conversations across the board and get as many > distributors on board as we can.” > > Connolly met with the league's athletic directors Wednesday to update them on > the SEC Network and ESPN's progress in securing distribution. > > UF athletic director Jeremy Foley said he came away impressed, and with no > concerns about the network's distribution. > > “ESPN is big time. I was very excited about their presentation today,” Foley > said. “I've been around those people for a long, long time. This network is > going to be successful because of their professionalism, because of their > efforts. So no, we're all good there. > > “Obviously, we're excited about the network. When all is said and done, I > think it's going to be big time. I talked to (UF associate athletic director) > Lynda Tealer about this today, all the things they're going to do for this > league, all the exposure we're going to get. We're very excited about being > in a partnership with ESPN. Things are moving forward. It's going to be big > time." > > Foley was asked if it is typical for negotiations like these to go down to > the 11th hour. > > "I've not been involved in anything like this before,” he said. “At the end > of the day, I trust our partners. We have the best partners in the world in > ESPN." > > Connolly said the lack of agreements with cable and satellite providers is > not a concern or issue at this time. > > “I wouldn't say comfort. It will be comfortable when everything is done,” he > said. “But at the same time, I do think if someone is trying to create a > narrative where there are distribution challenges here, I think it's off base > just based on those we do have and the amount of time we do have prior to > launch. I think it's fair (to say this is business as usual).” > > With Dish Network already on board, Slive said the network already can be > received in any part of the country. > > “We can say to all of our fans and folks who are interested in the network > that the network is now available to everybody,” Slive said. “If your > provider doesn't provide the network, then if you switch to Dish, then you've > got the network. > > “The decision now is with our fans and the people out there and our > consumers. One thing that makes me comfortable is the fact it's already > available to everybody.” > > SEC fans do have a say. The league has set up a web page > (www.GetSECNetwork.com) where fans can contact their cable provider and state > they want to receive the SEC Network. > > Foley said he's excited about the network and the impact it will have on the > SEC. > > “I think more than anything else, it's going to give an unbelievable presence > to the total league,” he said. “From the fan's point of view, a lot of great > athletic competition. > > “You just look at what goes on in this league. You've got three teams in > Oklahoma City (for the Women's College World Series). You've got 10 baseball > teams in (NCAA regional play). I think we had 10 or 11 softball teams in. > Obviously, some very high-quality competition. That's what is exciting for > me, giving all the programs tremendous exposure." > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Sent From Shane's iPhone > Go Gators! & Skål Vikes! > ALPCA #8756 > Europlate #1045 > -- > -- > GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! > 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions > 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions > 2008 National Football Champions | > Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), > Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "GatorNews" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GatorTalk" group. 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